Cinematograph film



Nov. 12 1929. 3. THQRNTON 1,735,812

CINEMATOGRAPH FILM Original Filed May 5. 1924 COLLO|D LAYE.R CONTAINING Two COLOR COMPONE.NT h mqe.5

TRANSPARE,NT SUPPORT/ 6'- 5 8vwemtot:

' film. and cemented together one image-face of :o

Patented Nov. 12, 1929 UNITED STATES PATEN-T OFFICE JOHN EDWARD THORNTON, OF WEST HAMPSTEAD, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN OWDEN OBRIEN, OF MANCHESTER, ENGLAND CINEMATOGBAPH FILM Original application filed May 5, 1924, Serial No. 711,251, and in Great Britain November 17, 1924. Divided and this application filed October 22, 1925. Serial No. 64,248.

A This invention relatos to improvements in cinematograph color films and methods of manufacture.

In application Serial No. 711,251, filed May 5, 1924, of which this application is a division,

In the application Serial No. 711,253, filed May 5, 1924, I have described a multi-color cinemtograph positive film produced from two thin films of half standard thickness each carrying two color-component images in screen filter dots, lines or mosaic, and cemented together image-face to image-face.

In application Serial No. 711,254, filed May 5, 1924, I have described a multi-color positive cinematograph screen-film material which may be used With this invention.

In the application Serial No. 711,255, filed May 5, 1924, I have described a multi-color cinematograph positive film produced from two thin films of half standard th ckness, each carrying two color-component images, one color component on one side and the other color component on the other side of each th1n one to one image-face of the other.

In the application Serial No. 711,252, filed May 5, 1924:, I have described a multi-color cinematograph positive film produced from two thin films of half standard thickness, each carrying two color-component images pro. duced by photo-mechanical printing and ce mented together image-face to image-face.

In the application Serial No. 712,462, filed May 10, 1924, I have described a multi-color cinematograph positive film produced from two thin films of half standard thickness, each carrying two color component images and cemented together back to back (cellulord to celluloid).

In the application Serial No. 40,961 I have described a multi-color cinematograph positive film produced from two thin films of half standard thickness, one carry1ng two color-component images and the other carry.-

ing one component image, and cemented together back-to-back or face-to-face.

In all the above examples it has been necessary to have half the component images reversed on the negative or printing-clich.

I find that it is practical to produce a multicolor cinematogranh positive-film of four or three colors from two thin fihns of half standard thickness, each carrying two colorcomponent images, the two thin films being cemented together with the image-face of one thin film cemented to the back of the other thin film. The advantage of this order of cementing 1s that it renders unnecessary'any reversal of half the images on the negatives, and. makes it possible to use negatives which have all their images facing the same way.

The invention is illustrated by the accompany1ng drawing, wherein 1 represents the front colloid layer conta1n1ng two component-images in two colors, 2 represents a substratum, and 3 represents a transparent support or one-half the thickness of the standard cinematograph film, it being composed preferablyof a strip of celluloid of such thickness to which the front colloid layer 1 is united by the substratum 2, these three layers composing one positive; 4 represents another colloid layer c'ontaining two component-images in two colors, 5 represents a substratum, and 6 represents a transparent support also of one-half the standard thick ness to which the colloid layer 4 is united by the substratum 5, these three layers composing the other positive; and 7 is a layer of cement which units the colloid or image bear, ing face of the lower or rear positive to the back of the upper or front positive, all the componentimages being super-imposed and facing the same way. The thicknesses of the different layers are exaggerated in the drawing for clearness in illustration.

The negatives are produced in the camera by any known method of splitting up the picture into it's color components either upon single or double-Width film, and the positivos are printed or prepared from the negativos or printing-clichs by any of the methods or processes described in the aforementioned Specifications or by other known process.

When printed or prepared, the two thin films are cemented together the imageface of one to the back of the celluloid or other base of the other.

The invention may be applied to noncinematograph films or pictures orinted upon -transparent material of other descriptions in% and finished prior to cementing.

he two-pairs of component images are printed in or upon one layer of gelatine or other colloid and in superimposition, so that two images are formed upon the one side of the support.

The support consists of a thin strip of celluloid, cellulose-acetate, or similar transpar ent waterproof material.

In one form of the invention the back of the celluloid support is bare and devoid of -gelatine or other colloid coating.

In another formthe back of the celluloid has indissolubly attached thereto a layer or coating of plain gelatine (without any s,nsitizer and inca able of producirig any photo graphic image? after the manner of the wellknown non-curling type of film.

After the two. thin films have been printed and finished they are first accurately as- .sembled a'nd registered by a machine of known type which appliesa suitable cement to the faces to be joined and then presses and clamps them together until the joint is complete. In the first form of film-material the bare celluloid back of one film is joined i(1) the printed gelatine face of the other In the second form of film-material the bare gelatine back of one film is joined to the printed face of the other film.

For either form the cement applied must be one possessing great adhesive powers and sufficient fiexibility, and it must be capable of penetrating into each of the two surfaces to be united and capable of softening or partially dissolving them, and must contain a solvent or solvcnts capable of acting upon' both surfaces if they are different in character, composition, or hardness. Such cement may be of known composition.

The film is provided with perforations in the double or single width unprinted sections for the purpose of feeding and registering in the printing, assembling, cement port, a two-color screen formed in the colloid layer to carry images of the portions of the picture obtaining in the said two colors, a second colloid layer,.a second differently colored two.-colbrscreen formed in the second colloid layer and to have the portions of the images obtaining in the said further two colors, a second transparent support of half standard thickness and by which the second colloid la er is carried, and a layer of cement by Which the first colloid layer is indissolubly united to the bare back of the second transparent support, whereby the two thin films are cemented together with the image face of one thin film to the bare back of the second thin film, rendering it unnecessary to reverse the second set of images With relation to the first before superimpo sition.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN EDWARD THORNTON. 

